Gyokeres hat-trick sends Sweden past Ukraine in World Cup play-offs

Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick as Sweden brushed Ukraine aside 3-1 on Thursday to set up a showdown with Poland for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
Arsenal striker Gyokeres stabbed in from close range in the sixth minute in Valencia and then doubled Sweden’s lead with a well-taken goal early in the second half.
He won and converted a penalty to complete his treble and seal victory for Graham Potter’s team on 73 minutes, with Matvii Ponomarenko heading in a late consolation for Ukraine.
Remarkably, it was Sweden’s first win of an otherwise dismal qualifying campaign, but one that moved them to the cusp of only a second World Cup appearance in 20 years.
Sweden picked up just two p...